Gun Control Law (BILL C-17), Suicide, and Homicide in Canada

Abstract

Canadian Bill C-17 was implemented in 1991 to restrict the use of firearms, providing a chance to investigate the effect of firearm control laws in the use of firearms for suicide and homicide. Following Lester and Leenaars' comprehensive studies, the present study examined the use of firearms for suicide and homicide during the period prior to the bill and during the period after the passing of Bill C-17 to assess the association of the bill with rates of suicide and homicide by method. Analysis showed a significant decrease after passage of Bill C-17 in the rates of suicides and homicides involving firearms and the percentage of suicides using firearms. The analysis provides support for the position that restricting the availability of firearms as a lethal means of committing suicide and homicide may help reduce the numbers of suicides and homicides.

Risk of firearm injuries among children and youth of immigrant families

“…Although the observed rates of firearm injuries in our study were substantially lower than those in many other countries, 1,2 they nonetheless represent injuries that are often catastrophic and entirely preventable. A number of interventions have been associated with reductions in firearm injury rates, including firearm legislation restricting gun ownership, registration and access, 38,39 and recommendations around safe firearm storage. 40 For reducing assault-related firearm injuries specifically, neighbourhood-level community engagement strategies, 41 conflict resolution programs, 42 emergency department and hospital interventions with brief motivational interviewing and cognitive skills training, 43 and community-based programs to develop social skills 44 have shown promising results.…”

Leading Causes of Unintentional Injury and Suicide Mortality in Canadian Adults across the Urban-Rural Continuum

“…38 Most firearm-related suicides involve shotguns and rifles, as these firearms are most often found in homes, especially in rural areas. 31 Despite evidence suggesting that restrictive firearms regulations in Canada contributed to a decrease in suicides, 35,39,40 firearm registration remains a contentious issue. If urban-rural differences in firearm suicides increase following the recent abolishment of the long-gun registry, this increase would provide further evidence of the need to restrict access to these weapons.…”

L’effet de la Loi C-68 sur les homicides au Québec : une analyse des bornes extrêmes

“…Les autres évaluations de la Loi C-51 n'observent aucun effet préventif. D'autre part, bien que différents, les résultats des trois évaluations de la Loi C-17 ne permettent pas de conclure à son effi cacité (Bridges, 2004 ;Labalette, 2004 ;Blais et al, 2011). Finalement, la seule évaluation de la Loi C-68 tranche en faveur de son effi cacité (Blais et al, 2011).…”

“…Le tableau 1 montre qu'en moyenne, les évaluations renferment 5,04 menaces, ce nombre variant entre 1 (Blais et al, 2011) et 6 (Sproule et Kennett, 1988Leenaars et Lester, 1994 ;Carrington, 1999 ;Bridges, 2004). Ces menaces sont de quatre ordres.…”